Author's Note:

Chapter one is here, lovelies. It won’t read those characters. I’ve tried.

Feedback is so much appreciated. xP

What is in italics is part of the story.

Sorry this took so long, dearies. Everything has been piling against me, but I'm going to try and get back on track. I have a lot of things I want to write, a lot of stories to get out there and posted. But, this one has been sitting in my mind for awhile. And I want to get a good head start on it, as well as some rewritings of All The Little Pieces.

This chapter is a bit shorter than I wanted it to be, but that's all right. I'll make the next ones longer, but I wanted to get this up and running before I headed off to bed.

Read and review, please.

xximperfection.

-x-

Chapter One

Have you felt out of place? Been the misfit of your entire high school?

Of course not, because no one wants to acknowledge the fact that they have felt out of place, or been misfitting, in their high school, or life for that matter. No one wants to admit that they've felt out of place, like they're lost in some kind of abyss that holds nothing of their interest.

Except me, though. If I didn't acknowledge what had happened, there would be no story to tell, would there? Certainly not, because it all starts there. The day I started school at Apollo High School in Apollo, Oregon..

-x-

He stared down at me, long dark eyelashes framing such deep blue eyes. I found myself lost in their depths, wanting to never look away. With him, I felt. . . complete. I felt important. I felt. . .

Loved.

"Don't leave me again, Schuyler," He whispered after a minute, a fair-skinned hand reaching down and touching my cheek, cupping it and brushing away a tear that had escaped. In fixing me, he was also breaking me.

I hated to see what I had done to him.

"I promise I won't," I managed, as his head ducked to mine, lips coming closer and closer. . .

"Goooooood morning, Apollo! It is currently six fifteen a.m, cloudless with no chance of rain in sight! Our first day of no rain in weeks, which is surprising and comforting. The temperature is a grand total of seventy four to add to this lovely fall day! And, now, here's the latest from Jimmy Robbins!"

With a groan, I flipped over in my bed, slamming my dainty hand down onto the alarm clock and sending it into an eerie silence. The only sound which filled my four walled room was my shallow, slightly aggravated breathing.

Today was the day.
Today was the day.
Today was the day.
Today was the day.

Today, I started high school at Apollo High. And, I wasn't so excited about it. But, it was a time to start over. A time to forget the past and make a new name for myself here. I could hardly wait for that part, but the rest was still a dark shadow lingering in the back of my mind.

I could start over, though.

No one had to know about my Dad. No one had to know that my Mom and I had only moved here to get away from his abusive, alcoholic lifestyle. No one had to know.

I felt slightly relieved at that, but yet tense that they would find out. It was high school. Everyone seemed to know everything about you before you even introduced yourself. And, that, was what terrified me.

"Schuyler Avery! Yo' better get yo' ass out'ta bed, young'n!" That would be my dearest mother, who was shouting at me, just in case the blaring radio hadn't woken me from my peaceful, innocent slumber.

With a stifled set of yawns, I turned down the blankets and slipped my legs out. As the cool air hit my exposed skin, I shivered and glanced down at myself. Black shorts with a white tank-top. No wonder I was freezing; Mom always kept the air on full blast.

Arms folding over my chest, I began to stand up carefully, knowing full well that it was most likely that I would trip. I wasn't the most coordinated person on the planet. Hell, my friends from my last school had even petitioned to get the school to give out a Clumsy Award at the end of the year. They said I would have been a shoe in for that, but thankfully our principal hadn't found it very amusing, or fit for school life.

It didn't take long for me to get ready for school, but there wasn't much to be done. When I finished, though, I found myself staring blankly into the mirror with an anxiety filled expression.

Dark, long eyelashes lined my green eyes, which were intricately laced with strips of gray. Somehow. I didn't know where the gray colour came from, seeing as no one in my family had gray eyes. They were more prone to green and brown. But, I wasn't one to complain. I loved the colour.

Cinnamon coloured tresses tumbled down a bit past my shoulders in definite layers, a set of left-sided bangs almost completely covering my eye. Naturally thin, arched eyebrows were a bit darker than my hair, matching the dark brown underside of my hair more than the rest. Quickly and silently, I lined my eyes with black eyeliner above and below, though not in an overly dark sense. I had just come out of that stage, and I wasn't looking forward to going back into that depression.

My skin wasn't pale, though it definately wasn't tanned either. Stuck somewhere in the middle, I was nowhere near happy with the tone. But, summer was fastly approaching. I would have plenty of time to lay out in the sun with a novel of some sorts; That would easily take care of my plain skintone.

A huff escaped my lips when I had accidentally jabbed the black mascara wand into my eye, instantly reddening the whitened parts. With a frustrated noise, I dropped the makeup into my bag and quickly began tugging on an outfit. Today's attire consisted of a pair of tattered jeans and a pink shirt bearing the black words 'LOCK UP PARIS' across the front, rather boldly at that.

Grabbing the nearest hoodie I could find, which was a Track hoodie from my previous school, I dashed towards the staircase and grabbed my bag on the way.

My footsteps were heavy as I hurried, nearly ran, down the stairs and stopped at the living room, bearing my Mother a swift goodbye, though I could hardly hear the sound of my own voice over the blaring rock in my headphones.

My Mother was a slender, yet very curvy woman. She stood at a height of five foot seven, nearly three inches taller than myself. Her hair was a dark chocolate brown, her eyes the same color as mine. Her heart-shaped face was framed by bouncy curls, natural of course. And, she wore very little makeup to enhance her eyes; she said there was no need to bother when she wasn't trying to impress anyone. In all honesty, she was rather... plain, but her language was nearly hysterical. She talked like some true 'city slicker', her voice accented slightly and her words not fully comprehendible. I don't know why I found it amusing, but I did. And, apparently she did, too, because often times she would laugh at herself along with my stiffled giggles.

I had been tuning my Mother, and Father, out for so long that it became rather easy to read their lips and understand what they were saying. Rarely did one of them ever say something different or off the wall, so I was prepared when my Mother began speaking.

"You're going to be late. Don't forget to ride the bus home! I love you!" And, I replied quickly with an 'I love you, too' before rushing out the door. The oak slammed behind me and my footsteps slapped the pavement as I ran down the sidewalk to catch the bus.

And, sadly, a block away, I saw the bus pulling away. Great. My first day of school and I was already going to be late. I know what you're thinking; Pathetic, right? Some recently turned seventeen year old who doesn't drive.

Yep, that's me.

I just never had time to get my license, or permit for that matter. My parents were always fighting, always having me in the middle of such arguments. And, it left very little time for me to spend out of the house.

In the middle of the sidewalk, I stopped and sucked in a heavy breath. The sun overhead was rather bright, especially for the temperature not being so high, but not so low either.

Thankfully, two years of track had left me conditioned to run. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been able to make it to the schoolgrounds without doubling over from exhaustion and the like. As my feet planted themselves onto the pavement repeatedly, I had many thoughts running through my mind.

This was a new school that was much larger than my previous one. A school that could make my life amazing, or make my life a living Hell. I didn't want the latter choice, therefore I chose to be careful today. The first impression was the most important. Or, that was what I had always been taught.

Running in flipflops wasn't easy, though, as any girl would be able to tell you. The shoe was frequently getting caught on the cracks in the sidewalk.

Scratch that..

The shoe was frequently getting caught in the ravines in the sidewalk.

I tripped numerous times, though I had somehow managed to stumble onto the school grounds with less than ten minutes before the day would begin.

Less than ten minutes before my entire life would be turned upside down, but I had no way of knowing that ahead of time. If I had, though, would I have changed it? Would I have actually let everything get so complicated?

I wasn't sure.

-x-

"...Dude, I'm serious! It was like this!..." Some girl with dark blond hair was talking to her friends at the beginning of my first class, using a pair of dainty and manicured hands to show how big something had been.

I cringed involuntarily at the thought of what she could have been talking about; I didn't want to hear about some random stranger's sex life. It wasn't my style, but with how loud she was talking.. It was nearly impossible not to hear.

Frustrated, I let out a squeaking sound and leaned forwards, my forehead colliding with the wooden desk in a plop sound. I heard some boy next to me laugh hysterically at my gesture, muttering something along the lines of,"Did you see that?! She just... Plop!"

I guess it didn't take much to amuse people at this school, eh?

In spite of myself, I felt a small grin working up onto my features as I lifted my head lifelessly and glanced over at him. Both eyebrows of my own shot up, matching his expression. Clearly, he was surprised I had heard such a comment.

"I don't think they really care, darling. And, if they do," I paused, shaking my head almost sadly,"..Then it's pretty sad that you've got nothing more to talk about aside from the new girl, eh dearie?'

He made a face, though said nothing more and went back to talking to his friends.

Okay, so I guess I wasn't in a very social mood. Making friends was something I had always struggled with; I was entirely too shy. Keeping friends, though.. That wasn't entirely too difficult, though I found myself very slow to actually open up to my friends. . .

"Class, if you would please stop talking.." Mr. Archings was speaking and my attention snapped up. The man couldn't have been over thirty five, though he was on the shorter side of the spectrum, with small glasses that sat on his nose and sparsely graying hair that had once been a dark shade of brown, I presumed. Large, brown eyes seemed kind and knowing of everything that happened. His voice held authority; I instantly knew he wasn't a teacher to mess with.

The only way I had known his name was simply because the guidance counselor had insisted I come into the school the day before my attendance started to be introduced to every teacher, and to make sure I knew how to get to each class.

Oh yes, because it was so difficult to walk up and down staircases and find doors labeled with a teacher's name and classes taught there..

"...Today,we have a new student. Now, if you would please stand up and introduce yourself, Miss Reynolds, that would be great."

It was dead silent at that moment. Not a single person moved, including myself.

I hadn't expected to actually have to speak infront of the class! I hadn't actually expected to have to introduce myself infront of, what, thirty some people?!

My stomach churned as Mr. Archings gestured for me to come to the front of the class with his hand.

"C'mon, Reynolds, it's not that difficult. Your name and a few words abour yourself."

I swallowed,"Do I have to at the front of the room?"
He nodded.

With a growing nerve in my stomach, and a sickening feeling to top that off, I nodded understandingly and slowly rose. My legs trembled beneath me for a brief moment before I straightened, taking in a deep breath.

Calm, cool and collected.
They could smell fear, I was so sure.
At least, that was how it was with animals. Never fear them, because they could smell it. They could sense it..

I didn't realize I was walking until I found myself turning to face the class. They all stared up at me with interest, as if they were anticipating me to make a mistake, to make a fool out of myself. I swallowed the lump in my throat and drew in a breath.

"I moved here from Oakland, Missouri with my Mom. I have a younger sister who's eight and going to Apollo Elementary. No, I don't live with my Dad. Don't ask," Maybe I sounded a bit more standoffish than I intended to..

Family problems weren't something I felt comfortable talking about in depth. I gave the general details and left it at that.

"What are your interests, Miss Reynolds?" Mr. Archings wasn't making this easy.

"..Track. I love to run. And, criminology. I want to study it when I get to college," I found myself smiling despite the odds being stacked against me. The odds were, I was going to mess up. But, so far, I hadn't done so horrible. Maybe this wasn't so hard.

"All right; What's your full name? I think the students should familarize themselves with you aside from knowing just your last name.." Oh joy.

I laughed nervously,"Schuyler Avery Reynolds."

No sooner did the words left my mouth than I heard a quiet gasp in the back of the room and the door to the classroom slam shut. I jolted, shocked and startled by both gestures happening almost simultaneously.

As hard as I tried not to, I found myself looking over at the door to see who had left..

I was even more shocked to see something aside from that. It was more like who had entered the room. All of the eyes were on me at that time, though not in the sense they had been seconds eariler. Instead, it was almost as if every single person I was staring intently at me, trying to burn a hole through my back or trying to figure out what I was all about.
I wasn't exactly sure.

But, I was more focused on the male that had entered the room, as well as the female who was standing next to him. I assumed she had been the one who had gasped at the back of the room judging by the way she stared at me.

She had short, inky black hair that went to her chin, a set of bangs that covered her entire forehead. A heart shaped face completed her, giving her a very petite look about her. Small, dark green eyes seemed all too knowing. They were enhanced with mascara and a thin line of eyeliner, though that was beside the point. This girl. She looked farmilar, around my age and seemed to know me. Her thin lips were parted, her jaw almost completely slack. A paled look took over her features, one that told me she seemed surprised to see me.

Why? I wasn't sure. But, again, I was more focused on the male..

He was towering over her, easily six feet tall with a build that was only slight, though easily detected. Perhaps soccer or basketball had been the sport of his choice. Or, maybe nothing. I was overanalyzing this situation...

Dark brown hair was tussled, dusted with the lightest colours of blond and a caramel hue. He had a sharp nose, though not oversized for his rounded face and broad shoulders. A pair of baggy jeans were around his waist, a dark green t-shirt bearing the name of a band I had never heard of was covering his torso. Light eyebrows were risen in surprise and shock, his features holding the same expression as the girl next to him.

But, that wasn't what shocked me the most.

What nearly knocked me off my feet and onto the cold floor of the classroom were his eyes. They were a deep, dark sapphire blue and enriched with long, curved eyelashes that made them seem all the more mysterious and yet all the more kind.

"Schuyler?"

Both he and her spoke at the same time, the simple name cutting through the air like glass through water. Everyone seemed to not even dare to breathe, though I think I heard a few snickers in the background. Perhaps it was someone looking for some kind of scandal.

Their voices were in perfect sync with one another, making them sound and appear even more angelic to me.

The boy, though I didn't know his name, stepped a half of a pace closer. Those beautiful eyes squinted, as if trying to look into the brightest of lights.

"Schuyler?"